Cash-register.



P atontoll Ian. 29, IQGI J.= P CLEAL. CASH REGISTER.

(Applicctibn am Aug. 95, 189B.)

4 Shoots-Shoa! I.

l/VVENTOR. e nfl Pcie a M 7ZTTORNEX WITNESSES:

No. 666,648. Patented Jan. 29, IN.

J. P. CLEAL.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed. Aug. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sha0tsS haef 4.

W am

UNITED STATES JOSEPH P. CLEAL, OF DAYTON, OHIO,

TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY,

JERSEY.

PATENT OFFICE.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 666,648, dated January 29, 1 901.

Application filed August 25 1898.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. CLEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, havein vented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in [O cash-registers, and more particularly to registers of the class patented to Thomas Carney March 19, 1895, and numbered 536,015.

One of the several objects of the invention is to provide improved means in the class of machine mentioned for printing both a check and a detail-strip during a single operation of the machine.

In the appended drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of the devices embodying my invention applied to a machine of the class mentioned. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section through the same, taken just inside the printing mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts in the positions they assume when the checkkey has made its initial movement and one of the amount-keys has made its downstroke. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of a por- 0 tion ot'.the printer-hood and the shutter for closing the check-opening in the same. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail side elevation of the detail-strip spool, its actuating devices, and cooperating gears. Fig. 6 represents a 5 detail side elevation of the spring-pressed stud upon the platen. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section through the machine, showing the connection between the keys, typecarriers, and rotation-shaft; and Fig. 8 rep- 4o resents a detail top plan view of the operating rack-segments and nested sleeves carrying the printing-wheels.

In the said drawings, 1 represents the frame of the machine; 2, the keys; 3, the special 5 check-key, and at the printing mechanism.

As a large part of. the printer and the mechanism connecting the same with the register proper is fully described in said patent, I will only enter into a brief description of the same 0 here and will refer to said patent if a more detailed description of such parts is desired.

Serial No. 689,492. tNo model.)

The printing-wheels 5 of the printing mecli anism are actuated by the register-operating mechanism, substantially as described in said patent and as shown in Figs. 7and 8. There is one printing-wheel or type-carrier cooperating, respectively, with each bank of keys in the usual manner, and the said type-carriers are connected to the register-operating mechanism in the usual manner, so as to be moved 6o varying distances, according to the numerical value of the operated key, as will be readily understood. These printing-wheels act in conjunction with an endless inking-ribbon 6 and a platen 4 to make a printed record of every transaction upon the detailstrip 7. The inking-ribbon and detail-strip are moved forward at each operation of the machine by the actuating pawl 50, which engages a ratchet-wheel 50? on the spool 51, upon which the detail-strip is wound, and through the gears 51, 52, and 53 moves the inking-ribbon a certain distance atevery operation of the machine. The said pawl 50 is pivotally mounted upon a crank-arm 50, which is fast to one of the journal ends of the key-coupler 25, and is further connected to said arm by a spring 50, so as to be always forced into engagementwith the ratchet-wheel. The platen 4 of said printing mechanism is mounted 8o upon a pivoted lever 9, which is provided with an operating-nose 10, so located thereon as to be forced normally againstthe periphery of an operating-can1 11 by means of a coilspring 12. The said cam is rigidly mounted upon the rotation-shaft 13 of the machine, so as to be given one complete revolution during every operation of the machine, and thus engage the nose 10 and force the lever 9 down against the tension of its spring, so that when the enlarged portion of said cam passes said nose the latter will be released and the lever 9 will bethrown suddenly upward, because of the tension of its spring, and thus give the desired rapidstroke tosaid platen. Aspring- 5 pressed stud 14 is mounted on a portion of the lever 9 and is arranged to strike astationary part of the frame, whereby the platen rebounds from the printing-wheels after making its stroke.

The devices thus far [00 described form no part of my present invention. My invention ,there fore, as illustrated, consists in applying to such a mechanism, which is arranged to print a detail-strip, other devices which will enable one to print the amount of the recorded transaction also upon a paper check which is arranged to be manuallyinserted at the proper time between the printing-wheels and the platen. To this end I provide means for operating the platen a second time during a single operation of the cash-register. so that the first operation of the platen will designate the amount represented by the operated keys upon the detail-strip and the second operation of the platen will designate that amount upon the check.

About midway of the ends of the platen-carrying arm 9 I fix a pin 15, which is carried by said arm and projects inwardly. Embracing said pin is the rear slotted end of a lever 16, which is centrally pivoted at 16 to a part of the fixed frame. The forward end of said lever terminates in a downwardly-extending nose 17. Pivoted to the check-key 3 is a pawl 18, the lower swinging end of which is normally spring-pressed against the nose of the lever 16 for a purpose to be presently described. If the lever 16 is notfirst operated, the pawl 18 will remain in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it is inoperative in relation to the nose l7.

Pivot-ed at its upper end to a portion of the check-key is a vertically-swinging arresterbar 20, the lower end of which normally rests against a rigid stud 22, which is fixed also to a portion of the frame of the machine. Along the upper front edge of the arrester-bar is the ratchet 23, and below the ratchet and carried by the arrester-bar is a pin 28. Cooperating with said pin is a stop-plate 27, which is pivoted to the check-key, and a coiled spring 21, which is secured at its opposite ends to the arrester-bar and the stop-plate, respectively, normally tends to swing the latter down ward and said bar forward. A pin 27 limits the movement of the stop-plate in both directions. The lower end of the stop-plate also rests normally upon the pin 22, and a notch intervenes between said lower end and the nose 26. A projection 20 on the front edge of the arresterbar and just below the ratchet 23 is arranged to be struck by the front inclined edge 23 of the universal bar or key-coupler 25 at a predetermined time to force said arrester-bar backward, as shall be presently described.

Pivoted at its lower end at 29 to the fixed frame of the machine is a locking-plate 29, which extends vertically upward alongside the check-key and the right-hand end of the universal bar or key-coupler 25. Pivoted to the side of the plate 29 is a spring-pressed locking-pawl 36, whose movement in one direction is limited bya stop-pin 36. Secured to the side of the check-key in front of the locking-plate is a block 31, the upper righthan 1 corner of which cooperates with the lockin g 7awl 36 to limit the initial movement of the lheck-key-that is, when the check-key is moved a short distance from normal position, the block 31* strikes the locking-pawl 36 and prevents further upward movement. Secured to the right-hand end of the keycoupler is a projection 30, which cooperates with a detent-notch 30" near the upper end of the locking-plate 29. hen the key-coupler is raised, the spring-pressed plunger 31, located within the block 31, forces the lockingplate to the rear, so that the wall of the notch 30 engages under the projection 30 to retain the key-coupler in raised position until the latte r is suitably released. The locking-plate 29 is further provided on its rearward edge with a nose 33, which has an inclined edge 34, and this nose cooperates with a stud 35, carried by the check-key, to prevent the lockingplate from being swung rearwardly by its spring-pressed plunger 31 unless the checkkey has been previously partly raised, so that in the normal operation of the machine where no check is to be printed the amountkeys are simply pressed in the ordinary manner. If, however, it is desired to print a check, the check-key is pressed before an amountkey and is swung upward a short distance until the block 31 strikes and is stopped by the stop-pawl 36. Thereby the stud 35 is raised, and when later the amount-keys are pressed and the key-coupler raised the locking-plate will be swung rearwardly and the wall of said notch 30 will engage the projection 30 to lock the key-coupler in its raised position. It will be observed from the above that the initial movement of the check-key is intended to release the locking-plate 29, so that it will arrest the key-coupler, as above described. As the locking-plate swings rearwardly to engage the key-coupler the locking-pawl 36 is moved out of the path of the block 31, so that the check-key can now be depressed its full and final stroke. The check'key 3 does not cooperate with the key -coupler 25, as the amount-keys do. It is so reduced in size at its rear end that its initia movement will not cause it to engage said key-coupler, nor will its subsequent movements bring it into connection therewith. As the check-key starts upon its initial movement the stop-plate 27 and the arrester-bar 20 are brought together by the spring 21 until the pin 28 engages the notch of the stop-plate 27 under the nose 26,

and the shoulder 22 moves over the pin 22 and supports the check-key at the end of its initial movement, while the locking-pawl 36 prevents its further movement until after the amount-keys have been pressed. As soon as the amount-key is started the rear end 23 of the key-coupler engages under the hooked rear end 2 of the key. When the said amou ntkey reaches the extreme of its initial stroke and the key-coupler is engaged and held in raised position by the locking-plate 29, as already described, of course the amount-key will be also held at the extreme of its initial stroke, and the said operated amount-key cannot be released except by giving the checkkey its final stroke. As the check-key moves on upward the arrester-bar moves farther forward, the pin 28 passing into the notch under the nose 526. During the upward movem ent of the check-key the rack 23 engages the edge 23, so that any reverse movementof said key before its upward stroke is completed and the key-coupler released, as hereinafter described, is prevented. Just before the pro- ;jection 20 of the locking-bar has reached in its forward movement the rear edge of the key-coupler, the stud 35, carried by the checkkcy, and which has been traveling along the rear cam edge of the locking-plate 29, forces said platen so far forward as to release the keycoupler, which immediately starts to fall by its own weight until it strikes the rear end of the upraised check-key. If now the checkkey is released, the weight of the key-coupler will restore all the operated keys to normal position. In failing the key-coupler strikes the projection 20 of the arrester-bar, thereby swinging the lower end of the latter toward the rear of the machine, so as to allow the nose 26 to drop in front of the pin 28 and hold the lower end of the arrester-bar and the shoulder 22 thereof to the rear of the pin 22, so that the special key can return to its normal position. (Shown in Fig.2.) The locking-plate 29 is meanwhile restored also to normal position, as will be readily understood.

It will be observed from the above that the rack-teeth on the arrester-bar 20 are not disengaged from the key-coupler until the latter has been released and moves downward, thus avoiding any danger of the special key being operated and returned to its normal position without releasing the coupler. When the pawl 27 strikes the bar 22 upon the return stroke of the special key, said pawl is moved up into the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to leave the arrester-bar free for the next setting operation.

It will be readily understood that during the initial movement of the operated amount key the shaft 13 will be moved, as described in the aforesaid patent, the cam 11 will be given a half-turn in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 far enough to retract the platen or printing-ham mer a and to then release it, so that the said hammer forces the detail-strip 7 against the ink-ribbon 6, which passes just under the printing wheels, whereby said prin tin g-wheels or type-carriers designate by printing upon the detail-strip the numerical value of the operated keys. In practical operation of the machine the check is now manually inserted between the detail-strip and the ink-ribbon and the checkkey given its final and full stroke to cause the hammer robe again retracted and released and in the manner already described designate by printing upon the inserted check the amount of the recorded transaction. The

erated amount-key as the platen is retracted the pin 15 therein swings the rear end of the lever 16 downwardly, thereby rocking the said lever on its pivot 16 and raising the nose 17, so that the locking-pawl 18 passes by it and the parts remain in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. Now when the checkkey is given its final movement the lockingpawl 28 is held rigid by its stop-pin 18, and therefore in passing down'it swings the nose l7 upward, thereby throwing the rear end of the lever 16 downward, and through the pin 15 retracts the platen until as the nose 17 slips off the locking-pawl 18 the platen is released and its spring 12 throws it upward for its second stroke, thereby forcing the check against the printing-wheels, as heretofore referred to.

Of. course my invention may be embodied in a variety of forms without departing from its spirit, and I do not limit myself to any particular form, my object being to provide a machine of the general class referred to which is arranged to print both a check and detailstrip and inwhich a primary movement of the machine adjusts the type-carriers to printing position, holds them there, and makes one impression by the platen, and during the final operation of the machine an independent means comes into play to again actuate the platen before the type-carriers are released.

Another feature of my invention relates to a means for alternately closing and opening the horizontal slot 38 in the front of the casing of the printing devices and through which the check is manually inserted, so that the said check can only be inserted at the proper time. Normally the slot is closed by the arm 39, pivoted at its front end to the upturned end of the bracket 39. The transverse extension 40 upon the rear end of the arm 39 forms the shutter to close and open the slot 38. Pivoted at its upper end to the arm 39 is a link a1, which is jointed at its lower end to a crank-arm 42, the latter being fast at its forward end upon a transverse rock-shaft 43, which is journaled at its ends in the fixed frame of the machine. Forwardly-extending arms 46 are also secured upon the transverse rock-shaft and are connected at their outer ends by a crank-bar $5, to which a coil-spring is secured at one end, its other end being fast to the fixed frame of the machine, and thereby when the shaft 45 is rocked the said spring operates to return it to normal position. When any key is depressed, it contacts with the bar 45 and by forcing the same downward raises the crank 42, and consequently the arm 39 and the shutter 40, to open the slot 38. The

special object of providing the shutter and its I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cash-register arranged to print both a check and a detail-strip, the combination with the type-carriers, of a platen keys arranged to move the type-carriers according to their numerical value and also operate the platen, means for locking the operated keys at the end of their initial movement, and means independent of the keys for actuating the platen and releasing the operated keys.

2. In a cash-register which is arranged to print a check, and a detail-strip, the combination with the type-carriers and the coopating platen, of the keys arranged during their initial movement to adjust the type-carriers according to the numerical value of the operated keys and to actuate the platen, means to look the operated keys at the end of their initial movement, and means independent of the keys arranged to release the operated keys and to again actuate the platen.

3. In a cash-register which is arranged to print a check and a detail-strip, the combination with a key having-an initial and a final movement, of the type-carriers, means for adjusting the type-carriers during the initial movement of the amount-keys means for lockin g said carriers in adjusted position,a platen, means for actuating the platen during the initial movement of said keys, and independent means arranged to actuate the platen a second time and to also restore the type-carriers to normal position.

4:. In a cash-register arranged to printboth a check and a detail-strip, the combination of a check-key and a series of amount-keys all having an initial and a final movement, type-carriers, a platen means for adjusting the type-carriers and actuating the platen during the initial movement of the amountkeys, means for automatically locking the type-carriers in adjusted position, and independent means controlled by the check-key for actuating the platen a second time and restoring the type-carriers to normal position.

5. In a cash-register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a lever carrying a platen, an auxiliary lever arranged to operate the platen-lever and mechanism by means of which the platen-lever must be operated before the auxiliary lever can operate said platen-lever.

6. In a cash-register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a platen, two levers for operating said platen, a spring for normally forcing said levers toward the printing mechanism and means for depressing said levers against the tension of the spring and then releasing them upon the operation of the machine, and an independent key for op erating said levers.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with the driving mechanism and the type-carriers arranged to be set by the driving mechanism,

of a platen operated by the driving mechan ism to make a printed impression from the type-carriers when they are set by the driving mechanism, and means independent of said driving mechanism for operating the platen to make a second printed impression from the type-carriers when so set by the driving mechanism.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with the driving mechanism and the type-carriers, of a platen arranged to be operated by said driving mechanism,and a check-key arranged to operate said platen independently of said driving mechanism.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with the driving mechanism and the type-carriers, of a platen arranged to be operated by the driving mechanism, a check-key and a lever cooperating with said key and arranged to operate said platen independently of the driving mechanism.

10. In a cash-register, the combination with the driving mechanism and the type-carriers, of a platen arranged to be operated by the driving mechanism, a check-key, means cooperating with said key and arranged to move said platen, and devices for disengaging said means from the key after a certain predetermined movement of the same.

11. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of a series of keys for moving the same and having an initial and a final movement, a platen operated by said keys, devices for locking the keys at the end of their initial movement, and independent means for releasing the keys and actuating said platen.

12. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of a series of keys a platen arranged to be operated thereby, acheck-key for independently operating said platen and having an initial and a final movement, and a latching device for retaining said key in its position at the extremity of its initial movement.

13. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of a platen, a series of amount-keys arranged to operate the platen, a locking-lever for securing the keys in position at the extremity of their initial movement, a check-key for operating said platen, and means mounted on said keyand arranged to engage the locking-lever to release the operated amount-keys.

14. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of a series of keys for moving the same, a platen arranged to be operated by said keys, a check-key for operating said platen independently of the first-mentioned keys, and means cooperating with said check-key for locking the first-mentioned keys.

15. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of a series of operatingkeys, means for preventing a complete immediate stroke of said keys, a platen arranged to be operated by said keys, and a check-key also arranged to operate the platen and to release said means for preventing a complete stroke of the keys.

16. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers and platen, of means for actuating said platen twice during one operation of the machine and devices for preventing the insertion of a check by hand until after the platen has been once actuated.

17. In a cash-register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a series of amountkeys for operating the same, a check-key for operating the printing mechanism independently of the amountkeys, a shutter for preventing the insertion of a check, and means actuated by the amount-keys to release the shutter.

18. In a cash-register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a series of amountkeys for operating the same, a check-key also arranged to operate said mechanism, a stop for preventing said check-key being fully depressed, and means for moving said stop upon the operation of the amount-keys.

19. In a cash-register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a series of keys for actuating the same, a check-key also arranged to actuate the printing mechanism, a stop to prevent a complete stroke of said check-key,

and means to prevent a complete stroke of the amount-keys.

20. In a cash-register, the combination with the type-carriers, of the platen, a series of universal bar or key-coupler, a locking-plate 29 arranged to engage the said universal bar, and a check-key for operating the printing mechanism and actuating the locking-plate to release said bar.

22. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of amount or value keys, driving mechanism and type-carriers, of a platen operated by the driving mechanism to make a printed impression from the type-carriers when they have been set by the driving mechanism, and an auxiliary lever or checkkey for making a second printed impression from the type-carriers when they have been so set.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JOSEPH P. OLEAL. Witnesses:

ALVAN MAOAULEY, WILLIAM MUZZY. 

